Don't toss that

When you know slang words in other dialects of English, some things are unintentionally funny.
[Source]

A bank killer of a move

In November 2021, I refinanced the mortgage on our Hawaii house. We locked in a 1.99% interest rate on the remaining principal (~$590k) for 30 years.

Fast forward to today, and Republic First bank has gone gone into receivership. Why? Because in 2021, "Previous leadership invest[ed] heavily in long-duration securities with low fixed interest rates." As interest rates have risen since then, those securities have declined in value.
Then, in 2022, Republic First "grew [its] jumbo mortgage portfolio at below-market interest rates." Although our refinance was through a different lender, that very well describes what we did to the bank we refinanced with. We locked got a fixed, jumbo mortgage at what is now a below market rate. Not just below market, but below the current inflation rate.

Whether or not that situation is widespread, or if it represents a serious threat to the banking industry, only time will tell. Regardless, it represents one of the few time, to paraphrase Danny Ocean, when I've had the perfect hand, and I've bet big, and taken the house.

Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof

Wiesbaden's "hauptbahnhof," or main station, is quite beautiful.

How do I get out? Make an Exodus

I think of the word "Exodus" as pretty special -- something you only see in the Bible. But to Greeks, it's completely ordinary -- you can see it on the highway, above fire escapes, whatever. It means nothing more than "exit."

That's very different perspective.

Chicken spaetzle soup

One of the things I like to make these days is chicken spaetzle soup. I start by dividing up a rotisserie chicken. I broil the skin (it makes a nice snack), separate the meat, and then use the bones to make stock.
For the soup, I use onions, celery, and carrots. When those are cooked a bit, I add the stock, then the spaetzle.
Between making the stock and then the soup, it takes a while, but the end product is both delicious and very inexpensive.

Macedonia trip, Day 2

We deliberately did nothing today but lounge around, use the wi-fi, and enjoy the food.

Macedonia trip, Day 1(b)

Before checking out of the hotel, we went for a walk around the downtown area.


North Macedonia is trying to build up a national identity, so they are putting up a lot of statues of historical people who lived in the area. Karpos -- the equestrian statue -- was born in the area, but choices like Saint Clement (Greek) and Saint Naum (Bulgarian) impose on the histories of North Macedonia's neighbors, which they aren't too happy about. The building in these pictures is National Archive. After checking out of the hotel, we drove to the winery and checked in.